Strawberry plant named &#39;Driscoll Bonaire&#39;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Bonaire’. The variety is similar to the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola.’ The variety is distinguished from ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola,’ in particular, by its longer petiole length and wider petiole diameter, longer sepal length and greater sepal width, longer fruit length, greater berry weight and longer harvest interval.

LATIN NAME OF THE GENUS AND SPECIES OF THE PLANT CLAIMED

The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa.

VARIETY DENOMINATION

The strawberry variety denomination is ‘Driscoll Bonaire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new variety originated as a result of a controlled cross between the strawberry plants ‘Driscoll Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and ‘Driscoll Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109) in an ongoing breeding program, and was discovered as a seedling in Hillsborough County, Florida in December 2000. The original seedling of the new cultivar was asexually propagated by stolons in a nursery in Shasta County, California. Propagules were transplanted to a controlled breeding plot in Hillsborough County, Florida, where the variety was identified and selected for further evaluation. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ was subsequently asexually propagated and underwent further testing in Hillsborough County, Florida for 5 years. This propagation and testing has demonstrated that the combination of traits disclosed herein which characterize the new variety are fixed and retained true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of strawberry named ‘Driscoll Bonaire.’ The variety is botanically identified as Fragaria×ananassa. The new variety is distinguished from other varieties by a number of characteristics as set forth in Tables 1-4.

Comparison to Similar Varieties

The varieties which we believe to be similar to ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ from those known to us are ‘Driscoll Malibu’ (Patent Pending) and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,752). There are several characteristics of the new variety that are different from, or not possessed by ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. For example, the new variety has a longer petiole length and wider petiole diameter, longer sepal length and greater sepal width, longer fruit length, greater berry weight and longer harvest interval.

‘Driscoll Bonaire’ is distinguished from its reference varieties, ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ as indicated in Tables 1-4.

The parents, ‘Driscoll Marathon’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,817) and ‘Driscoll Madeira’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,109), were not available for side by side comparison with ‘Driscoll Bonaire’. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ differs from ‘Driscoll Marathon’ by being a less vigorous plant, having much greater flesh firmness and greatly improved skin strength. ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ differs from ‘Driscoll Madeira’ by having a much glossier skin and a brighter red color where ‘Driscoll Madeira’ was a darker red color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographs show typical specimens of the new variety, including fruit, foliage and flowers, in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make in color illustrations of these characteristics.

FIG. 1 shows the upper side of the leaves of the plant.

FIG. 2 shows the under side and upper side of the flowers.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the fruit.

FIG. 4 shows the fruit in longitudinal cross-section.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description of the new variety is based upon observations taken of plants harvested from a nursery in McArthur, Calif. in September and October, 2004 and held in cold storage until planting in Hillsborough County, Florida in October, 2004. Plants were grown in raised beds of soil under conditions typical of commercial strawberry production in Hillsborough County, Florida. Fruits were harvested twice weekly from November, 2004 to April, 2005 for yield determination. Observations of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’, ‘Driscoll Malibu’, and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ were made in side by side comparison in January, 2005. Color designations, color descriptions, and other phenotypical descriptions may deviate from the stated values and descriptions depending upon variation in environmental, seasonal, climatic and cultural conditions. Colors are described and the most similar color designations are provided from The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Colour Chart.

Propagation

The new variety is principally propagated by way of stolons. Although propagation by stolons is presently preferred, other known methods of propagating strawberry plants may be employed.

Characteristics of the New Variety

Information on the new variety is presented in Tables 1, 2, 3 and 4. In the tables, the flowers described are secondary flowers except where indicated. The fruit described is the secondary fruit on four month old plants. Fruit and flower measurements are an average of both primary and secondary fruit and flowers.

Table 1 provides information on the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ compared with characteristics of ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 2 provides additional information of the plant and fruit characteristics of the new variety ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ compared with characteristics of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 3 provides reactions of the new variety to stresses, pests and diseases compared with reactions of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. Table 4 provides isozyme characteristics of the new variety as compared to that of the varieties ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’. TABLE 1 QUANTITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE,’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ Malibu’ Osceola’ Plant Characteristics Height of Plant (cm) 9.2 11.4 8.3 Spread of Plant (cm) 32.4 33.9 31.2 Number of Crowns 3.7 4.9 3.8 Leaf Characteristics Terminal Leaflet 7.8 6.6 6.7 Length (cm) Terminal Leaflet Width 7.9 6.6 8.1 (cm) Terminal Leaflet 0.98 0.99 0.83 Length/Width Ratio # Teeth/Terminal 25.7 22.5 23.8 Leaflet Color of upper side 132B 141A 135B medium green light to medium green medium green Color of under side 130B 139C 138B light green light green light green Petiole Length (cm) 7.7 10.3 8.0 Petiole Diameter (mm) 4.2 3.2 3.5 Petiole Color 142C 141C 140C green green green Petiolule Length (mm) 11.2 9.8 8.3 Petiolule Diameter 2.5 1.9 2.0 (mm) Petiolule Color 142C 141C 140C green green green Bract Frequency 92% 83% 8% typically paired typically typically single paired Stipule Length (cm) 3.07 3.46 3.53 Stipule Width (cm) 0.99 0.81 0.89 Stolon Characteristics Anthocyanin color 185A 58A 59D greyed purple red purple red purple red Diameter at bract (mm) 3.09 Avg. # of Daughter 54 55 65 plants (2003 Nursery) Flower Characteristics Petal Length (cm) 1.40 1.22 1.38 Petal Width (cm) 1.52 1.29 1.48 Petal Length/Width 0.92 0.95 0.93 Ratio Flower Diameter (cm) 2.94 2.57 2.83 Calyx Diameter (cm) 4.42 3.99 4.41 Sepal Length (mm) 18.3 15.6 16.9 Sepal Width (cm) 8.5 7.1 6.8 Petal Color 155C 155C 155C white white white Receptical Cob 1B 1B 1B yellow yellow yellow Anther Color 1A 1A 1A yellow yellow yellow Fruiting Truss Leng 13.5 14.4 11.8 (cm) Fruit Characteristics Fruit Length (cm) 5.2 4.7 4.2 Fruit Width (cm) 4.1 3.7 3.8 Fruit Length/Width 1.25 1.25 1.13 Ratio Average Berry Weight 32.9 28.0 29.9 (g) External Color 46A 46B 46A red red red Internal Color 43A 48C 48D light red orange red orange red Achene Coloration 178B to 160B 178C to 178C to 161B 160C Greyed Orange to Greyed Greyed Orange Greyed Yellow Orange to to Greyed Greyed Yellow Yellow Achenes per berry 342 240 225 Achene weight (g) 0.00058 0.00062 0.00089 2004-2005 Marketable 435 333 348 Yield (g/plant)

TABLE 2 QUALITATIVE COMPARISON OF ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE,’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ Malibu’ Osceola’ Plant Habit flat globose globose flat globose Canopy Density medium medium open to medium Vigor medium weak to medium medium Leaf Shape in cross section concave slightly concave to concave to slightly flat concave Interveinal blistering weak medium medium Glossiness medium weak medium Number of leaflets three only three only three only Terminal leaflet margin revolute flat flat profile Terminal leaflet shape of rounded rounded rounded base Terminal leaflet shape of obtuse obtuse to obtuse teeth rounded Stipule pubescence medium medium medium Petiole pubescence dense dense dense Petiole pose of hairs outwards downwards outwards to downwards Stolon Anthocyanin coloration strong medium to medium to strong strong Thickness medium medium to medium to thick thick Pubescence medium medium dense Inflorescence Position relative to level with level to level with foliage above to above Diameter of calyx larger larger larger relative to corolla on secondary flowers Diameter of inner calyx same size larger smaller to relative to outer on same size secondary flowers Spacing of petals overlapping overlapping overlapping Fruiting Truss Attitude at first picking prostrate prostrate prostrate Fruit Predominant shape conical conical cordate Difference in shapes slight slight slight between primary and secondary fruits Band without achenes very narrow very very narrow narrow Unevenness of surface weak medium weak Evenness of color slightly uneven slightly slightly uneven uneven Glossiness strong strong strong Insertion of achenes level with surface below to below level with surface the surface Insertion of calyx level level level Pose of the calyx reflexed reflexed spreading segments to reflexed Size of calyx in relation same size to same size same size to fruit on secondary larger to larger to larger fruit Adherence of calyx strong strong strong Firmness of flesh soft soft to soft to medium medium Evenness of flesh color slightly uneven slightly slightly uneven uneven Distribution of flesh marginal and marginal marginal color central and central and central Hollow center size small small medium Sweetness medium medium medium Texture when tasted fine medium fine Acidity medium medium medium Time of First Flowering late October early early in 2003 November November Harvest Interval in 2003 late November early early through early December December April through through early April early April Type of Bearing partially partially partially everbearing everbearing everbearing

Reaction to Stress, Pests, and Disease

TABLE 3 REACTIONS TO STRESS PESTS AND DISEASES FOR ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE’, ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’ ‘Driscoll ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ EI Capitan’ ‘Driscoll Venice’ Reaction to Pests Tetranychus urticae susceptible susceptible susceptible Lygus hesperus susceptible susceptible susceptible Reaction To Diseases Botrytis fruit rot susceptible susceptible susceptible Powdery mildew moderately moderately moderately susceptible susceptible susceptible Verticillium wilt susceptible highly susceptible highly susceptible Strawberry Mottle susceptible susceptible susceptible Virus Xanthomonas moderately moderately moderately fragariae susceptible susceptible susceptible

Isozyme Analysis

In addition to the morphological description above, the new cultivar ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ has been analyzed to obtain an indication of its genetic makeup to provide further means for identifying the new variety and distinguishing it from other somewhat similar and/or related strawberry varieties. Specifically, leaf samples of ‘Driscoll Bonaire’, ‘Driscoll Malibu’ and ‘Driscoll Osceola’ were analyzed by electrophoresis for isozyme patterns of the enzymes phosphoglucoisomerase (“PGI”), leucine aminopeptidase (“LAP”) and phosphoglucomutase (“PGM”). See J. Amer. Soc. Hort. Sci. 106:684-687. Isozyme characterization of the three varieties is presented in Table 4, with the letters representing the banding patterns for each enzyme as designated in the above-identified article. TABLE 4 ISOZYME ANALYSIS FOR ‘DRISCOLL BONAIRE,’ ‘DRISCOLL MALIBU’ AND ‘DRISCOLL OSCEOLA’ Locus ‘Driscoll Bonaire’ ‘Driscoll Malibu’ ‘Driscoll Osceola’ PGI A1 A1 A1 LAP B3 B3 B3 PGM C2 C4 C4 

1. A new and distinct variety of strawberry plant, substantially as shown and described. 